“The Second Sentencing”: A Qualitative Exploration of Women Going Up for Parole

Abstract

Most prior studies of parole hearings focus on the parole board members’ vantage point rather than the parole-seeking individual. When parole-seeking individuals’ experiences are explored, the research typically uses male samples with few women. Therefore, little is known about parole-seeking women’s experiences. Using a thematic analysis and data from 15 interviews with system-involved women, the current study examines their parole hearing experiences and reflections. Findings contribute to the literature on parole-seeking individuals by explaining women’s feelings throughout the process, the support they receive, and how they prepared for their hearing. The findings inform recommendations for future research and practical implications.

Keywords

women parole prison qualitative research

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Amadeo

(2017). The presentence investigation report: The enemy of the incompetent lawyer. Michigan criminal lawyers. Retrieved on July 30, 2022, from https://www.michigancriminallawyers-blog.com/presentence-investigation-report-enemy-incompetent-lawyer/

American Friends Service Committee (n.d.). Getting through the Michigan parole process. The American Friends Service Committee. Retrieved on July 30, 2022, from https://www.afsc.org/document/getting-through-michigan-parole-process

Bloom

Owen

Rosenbaum

Deschenes

E. P.

(2003). Focusing on girls and young women. Women & Criminal Justice, 14(2–3), 117–136. https://doi.org/10.1300/j012v14n02_06

Bloom

Owen

B. A.

Covington

(2003). Gender-responsive strategies: Research, practice, and guiding principles for women offenders. Nicic.

Cabral

R. R.

Smith

T. B.

(2011). Racial/ethnic matching of clients and therapists in mental health services: A meta-analytic review of preferences, perceptions, and outcomes. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 58(4), 537–554. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0025266

Caplan

J. M.

(2007). What factors affect parole—a review of empirical research. Federal Probation, 71(1), 16–19. https://heinonline-org.proxy1.cl.msu.edu/HOL/Page?handle=hein.journals/fedpro71&div=29

Clone

DeHart

(2014). Social support networks of incarcerated women: Types of support, sources of support, and implications for reentry. Journal of Offender Rehabilitation, 53(7), 503–521. https://doi.org/10.1080/10509674.2014.944742

Connor

D. P.

(2016). How to get out of prison: Views from parole board members. Corrections, 1(2), 107–126. https://doi.org/10.1080/23774657.2015.1125767

CORRECTIONS (n.d.). Parole - the parole process. Michigan Department of Corrections. Retrieved February 2, 2022, from https://www.michigan.gov/corrections/0,4551,7-119- 9741_12798-292528--,00.html

10.

Covington

S. S.

(1998). The relational theory of women’s psychological development: Implications for the criminal justice system [Paper presentation]. In 50th annual meeting of the American Society of Criminology, Washington, DC, November 16–19, 2022. https://www.stephaniecovington.com/site/assets/files/1530/finaltherelationaltheorychapter2007.pdf

11.

Ducoste

Olaghere

Flower

S. M.

(2021). Second chance for women parole preparation project. NCJRS.

12.

Glen

(2020). Cohen's kappa statistic. Retrieved December 11, 2021, from https://www.statisticshowto.com/cohens-kappa-statistic/

13.

Goodson-Miller

M. V.

(2022). A first look at justice-involved women’s egocentric social networks. Social Networks, 70, 152–165. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socnet.2021.12.003

14.

Guest

MacQueen

K. M.

Namey

E. E.

(2012). Introduction to applied thematic analysis. Applied Thematic Analysis, 3(20), 1–21. https://dx.doi.org/10.4135/9781483384436

15.

Harbinson

Ruhland

(2020). Examining the policies of paroling authorities in the United States to support evidence-based practices. European Journal of Probation, 12(3), 182–199. https://doi.org/10.1177/2066220320980870

16.

Herring

(2021). Parole boards approved fewer releases in 2020 than in 2019, despite the raging pandemic. Prison Policy Initiative. Retrieved July 17, 2022, from https://www.prisonpolicy.org/blog/2021/02/03/parolegrants/

17.

Holtfreter

Wattanaporn

K. A.

(2014). The transition from prison to community initiative: An examination of gender responsiveness for female offender reentry. Criminal Justiceand Behavior, 41(1), 41–57. https://doi.org/10.1177/0093854813504406

18.

Houser

Belenko

(2015). Disciplinary responses to misconduct among female prison inmates with mental illness, substance use disorders, and co-occurring, disorders. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal, 38(1), 24–34. https://doi.org/10.1037/prj0000110

19.

Huebner

B. M.

Bynum

T. S.

(2006). An analysis of parole decision making using a sample of sex offendersA focal concerns perspective. Criminology, 44(4), 961–991. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-9125.2006.00069.x

20.

Johnson

I. M.

(2014). Economic impediments to women’s success on parole: “We need someone on our side”. The Prison Journal, 94(3), 365–387. https://doi.org/10.1177/0032885514537760

21.

Kelly

McIvor

Richard

(2020). Prisoners’ understanding and experiences of parole. Criminal Behaviour and Mental Health, 30(6), 321–330. https://doi.org/10.1002/cbm.2178

22.

Lavin-Loucks

Levan

K. M.

(2018). Identity, discourse, and rehabilitation in parole hearings in the United States. Journal of Prison Education and Reentry, 5(1), 18–40. https://doi.org/10.25771/byad-k017

23.

McClellan

D. S.

(1994). Disparity in the discipline of male and female inmates in Texas prisons. Women & Criminal Justice, 5(2), 71–97. https://doi.org/10.1300/j012v05n02_05

24.

McCluney

C. L.

Durkee

M. I.

Smith

R. E.

II Robotham

K. J.

Lee

S. S. L.

(2021). To be, or not to be… Black: The effects of racial codeswitching on perceived professionalism in the workplace. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 97, Article 104199. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jesp.2021.104199

25.

National Parole Resource Center (NPRC) . (n.d.). State case studies. National Parole Resource Center. https://nationalparoleresourcecenter.org/resource-package-justice-involved- women/state-case-study-michigan.htm

26.

Renaud

(2019). Grading the parole release systems of all 50 states. Prison Policy Initiative. Retrieved February 8, 2022, from https://www.prisonpolicy.org/reports/grading_parole.html

27.

Richie

B. E.

(2001). Challenges incarcerated women face as they return to their communities: Findings from life history interviews. Crime & Delinquency, 47(3), 368–389. https://doi.org/10.1177/0011128701047003005

28.

Ruhland

Rhine

Robey

Mitchell

K. L.

(2016). The continuing leverage of releasing authorities: Findings from a national survey. Robina Institute.

29.

Ruhland

E. L.

(2020). Philosophies and decision making in parole board members. The Prison Journal, 100(5), 640–661. https://doi.org/10.1177/0032885520956566

30.

Sawyer

(2018, January 9). The gender divide: Tracking women's state prison growth. The Gender Divide: Tracking women's state prison growth | Prison Policy Initiative. Retrieved February 8, 2022, from https://www.prisonpolicy.org/reports/women_overtime.html

31.

Sawyer

(2019). Who’s helping the 1.9 million women released from prisons and jails each year? Prison Policy Initiative. Retrieved July 17, 2022, from https://www.prisonpolicy.org/blog/2019/07/19/reentry/

32.

Silverstein

(2006). Justice in genderland: Through a parole looking glass. Symbolic Interaction, 29(3), 393–410. https://doi.org/10.1525/si.2006.29.3.393

33.

Small

(2009). “How many cases do I need?” On science and the logic of case selection in field-based research. Ethnography, 10(1), 5–38. https://doi.org/10.1177/1466138108099586

34.

Tewksbury

Connor

D. P.

(2012). Predicting the outcome of parole hearings. Corrections Today, 74(3), 54–56. https://search-ebscohost-com.proxy1.cl.msu.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=edsggo&AN=edsgcl.298751897&site=eds-live&authtype=ip,guest&custid=s8364774&groupid=main&profile=eds

35.

The Sentencing Project (2022). Incarcerated women and girls. The Sentencing Project. https://www.sentencingproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Incarcerated-Women-and-Girls.pdf

36.

West-Smith

Pogrebin

M. R.

Poole

E. D.

(2000). Denial of parole: An inmate perspective. Federal Probation, 64(2), 3–10. https://doi.org/10.1080/01402380008425347

37.

Yin

(2002). Case study research. Sage.